Fluid separating and preserving means for apparatus for cleaning vehicle radiators or the like



Oct. 13, 1953 H. M. DUNN ETAL 2,655,161

FLUID SEPARATING AND PRESERVING MEANS FOR APPARATU FOR CLEANING VEHICLE RADIATORS OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Qua/t2! (9 364,

1953 H. M. DUNN ET AL 2,655,

FLUID SEPARATING AND PRESERVING MEANS FOR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VEHICLE RADIATORS OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 13, 1953 FLUID ,SEPARATING ANDI'RESERVING MEANS FOR APPARATUS FOR CLEAN- ING VEHICLE RADIATORS OR THE LIKE Henry M. Dunn and David Oles, New Haven, Conn., assignors to Choldun Manufacturing Corporation, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 7, 1950, Serial No. 137,422

3 Claims. (01. 134-111) This invention relates in general to apparatus for cleaning radiators or the like and in particular to mobile apparatus for cleaning an automobile radiator by forcing a cleaning fluid through the radiator, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, the present invention being an improvement over the apparatus of a co-pending application Serial No. 787,660 filed November 24, 1947, now abandoned.

' An object of the present invention is to provide superior means for cleaning a radiator and articles of like nature.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a superior radiator-cleaning apparatus of optimum efficiency and economy of construction, wherein a cleaning fluid is caused to surge back and forth through the radiator, to remove rust and other deleterious materials therefrom.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a radiator-cleaning apparatus of the type referred to wherein means are provided for preventing the loss of cleaning fluid during a cleaning cycle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide radiator-cleaning apparatus of the type retus for cleaning radiators or the like embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view partlyin .side elevation on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the fluid-separating chamber mounted at the back of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation in section of the fluid-separating chamber and valve-means of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing details of the improved valve-means of the apparatus, the valveplug being shown in a position to permit compressed air to force cleaning fluid out of the right-hand cylinder into the left-hand cylinder ofthe apparatus, and to open the latter to the fluid-separating chamber;

Fig. is similar to Fig. 4, but shows the valve 2 in its neutral position for permitting fluid in the fluid-separating chamber to flow simultaneously into both the left-hand and right-hand cylinders of the apparatus; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation in section of a-modification ofthe fluid-separating chamber of the apparatus.

The showing of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive The present invention relates in particular to improvements in the radiator-cleaning apparatus, the improvements of this invention relating particularly to a novel valve and fluid-separating chamber for preserving substantially all of the cleaning fluid in the apparatus during the cleaning cycle, so as to insure maximum efliciency of operation.

In general, the apparatus comprises a substantially-rectangular cabinet I0 preferably made of sheet metal and provided with a top H which forms the supporting-base of the cleaning apparatus per se, which comprises a pair of hollow cylinders l2 and I3 formed preferably of glass. The lower ends of the cylinders are seated upon the top plate ll of the cabinet, while the upper ends of the cylinders are engaged by cylindrical collars l4 and I5 respectively. Flanges l6 and I1 respectively circumscribe the lower edges of the collars and are adapted to be held down tightly in sealing engagement with the upper ends of the respective glass cylinders by a plurality of clamping-rods l8. Domed covers I9 and 20 are provided for closing the upper open ends of the collars l4 and [5 respectively, these covers being adapted to be clamped down tightly thereon by manually-operable handles 2! and 22 respectively, screw threaded onto corresponding studs 23 and 24 extending upwardly from the respective collars l4 and I5. Mounted within the cylinders are substantially cylindrical filters25 and 26 respectively, each filter being mounted over an aperture in the bottom of its respective cylinder. The connections between the apertures in the bottoms of the cylinders and the corresponding inletand outlet-pipes of an automobile radiator are conventional flexible hos indicated at H and 12 respectively.

The salient features of the present invention are incorporated in a fluid-separating chamber '21 and an improved valve 28, both of which are illustrated especially well in Figs. 2 through 5.

The valve 28 is adapted to be connected to each of the cylinders l2 and I3, to the fluidseparating chamber 21 and to a source of compressed air (not shown), and to this end is of which osition the valve plug four-Way construction embodying a valve-body 29 having four passages 30, 3|, 32 and 33 respectively, lying in a common substantially-horizontal plane, the inner ends of these passages intersecting a central valve-chamber '34, the longitudinal aids of which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the four intersecting passages 30, 3|, 32 and 33. The longitudinal axes of the latter passages are ai't'-s ubstan ti'ally 90 with respect to each other. 36, 31 and 38 are threaded irr 't-he outer="erids-of the valve-passages 30, 3|, 32 and 33 respectively, the nipples 35 and 31 being-used in conjunction with suitable couplings to connect thelpassages 30 and 32 of the valve to the cylinders Hand 13 respectively and the nipples 35 and 38 to connect the valve-passages 3| and 33 tothefluid-separating chamber 2'! and a fitting3'9" respectively; the

latter being for connecting the valve to acompressed-air supply.

The valvecha-mber-=34- is taperedsubstantially uniiormlyiromits upper end to its lower end-to accommodate a tapered valveepl-ug 49 which i is rotatably mounted therein and which-isprovided at 'itsupper-end with :asquared boss 4| ,on which is secured e-valve-operatinghandle-42 tor manually rotating the valve-plugin the-valve-chamber 34. Suitable stops (not shown) are provided for limitingthe angle ofro'tation of the valveplugto" substantially 90 which is characteristic of 1 this particular embodiment of the invention. It-will be understood; however, that the angle of rotation of thevalve-plug may vary, depending upon sueh factors as tlre- :sizes of 1 the -valve'-passages and the valve plug. -:For appearances sake, four-wayvalve zfl and itsradially-pro-iecting nipples 35, 36, 31 and 38 are enclosedwvithin a substantially drum=shaped sheet-metal housing Hi-having indiciatherecn for indicating the positions of the-handle fonopening and closing the respective passages-pf the valve.

ntermediate-the upper and lower ends of the tapered 'valve-plug 40, the body portion thereof is cut out, as indicated in cross :sectionin Figs. 4 end-' 5, to provide a substantially-transverse web -44, 'the ia;ce*45 of which isa-sub'stantially cylin- 'dricail surface. The'oppos'ite face'of "the valveplug web 44 is substantially V shaped and comprises two substantially-flat surfaces 46-46, the outerifaces- "of which make an obtuse angle with respect 'toea'ch other, the included angle being substantial'ly "125. The specific shape of this web-portion fl cfthe valve plug is such that in one angular: position of the valve-plug the lefthand'scylinder 1:2 of the apparatus will '-be conmected directly by -way of the nipple 35, the valve passagesfifl and 33 and the nipple 38 tothe compressedair fitting 39; the right-hand cylindr t3 of-ithe' apparatus being connected simultaneously tby"-way ofits nipple 31,. the valve-pass'a'ge's =32 and 3| and the nipple-36 tothe fluid- -:separating"chamber "2 1; =When -the valve-plug is rotated through" substantially '90--t0 its opposite position, as shown in Fig.4, then theright-hand cylinder 3 of theapparatus will be directly 'by wayof its nipple 3T and'va'Ive-passages 32 and 33 to-thecompressedair fitting 33, while theleit hand cylinder |2 will be simultaneously connected "directly by way of itsnipple 35, the valve-passages 30 and 3! 'and-the-nipple 36 to the flui'd' sepa'rating chamber. Between these two:extrem'e left and right-handpositions of thevalvepis its central or=neutral position,-in :43 is adapted to elos'e both fthe leftand: right-hand cylinders of Suitable nipples, i

therein'the air escaping by way of a vent into "the "atmosphere, the liquid being retained in the chamber. Tothese ends, the latter is preferably a substantially-cylindrical can-like member closed at its upper end by a top-plate 41 connected provided with a substantially-central aperture 48 for venting air from the chamber. Mounted on the-front of the fluid-separating chamber21 is a water gauge '49 or conventional"constrution for-determining visually the level of-theliquid'in thechamber at any chosen time. The 'bottomfl of thechamber is provided with acentralaperture5|-,-over which is-mourited a substantiallycylindrical filter '52 which is similarto'th'e'ifilters 25 and '26 of the cylinders 2' and f3 respectively, except that it is-prOVi'ded'With anhnperforate cover-plate 53 over its upper end. "The coverplate 53-oi the filter 52 is a'daptedtoiorm a baffle immediately below the'vent-aperture 4815f the-container to deflect liqnid'downwardlyf'asit enters the chamber byway-of theaperturein' the bottom thereof and henceprevent "the escape of liquid throughthe vent-aperture 48 in the top'of the chamber. The aperture 5| "in'the bottomof the chamber is connected bym'eansof'an aroma to the nipple 36 of the valve'28 and, as shown especially well in Figs. 2 and '3, serves "also" to support the fluid-separating chamber "above the cylinders and slightly to the rear thereof. Operation of the showing of Figs. 1 to S-inclusive The cleaning action of the'apparatu's is-obtained by surging a heated cleaning fluid from one cylinder of the apparatus to the otl'rer cylinder through the radiator orarticle beingcleaned, this surging action beingv accomplished by'means of compressed air successively "applied to the bodies of cleaning 'fluid in "each cylinder, the supply-pipe of the compressed air source being connected to the fitting 39 of the valve "28. Halving. supplied each cylinder with a predetermined quantityof cleaning fluid "and made the "appropriate connectionsby'meansof the fieXlbl'e hose H vand 12 between the'cylinde'rs and the inletand ou'tlet-portsof 'the "radiator to" be cleaned, then by swinging the valve-operating handle 42 to the left-asseeninFig. 1, the 'valve plugfll will berotated through "an angle'such-thait a passage-will be opened leading directly from the compressed-air fitting 39 to the left-hand cylinder l2 of the apparatus by way of thevalvepassages 33 and 30. Simultaneously, the righthand cylinder l3 will beconn'ected byway of'the valve-passages -32 and 3|, the nipple '36, and elbow -54, with the fluid-separating chamber 21. The force of the compressed'air then drives'the cleaning fluid in the left-hand cylinder down through the-aperture inthe bottom thereof and .from thence through the radiator, "01' article "being cleaned, up into the right-hand cylinder. "The quantity of cleaning fluid introduced into each cylinder is substantially 'ha'l'f orless than half the capacity of each cylinder and, consequently, all of the liquid of the system may be forced by the compressed air into one or the other of the cylinders successively. As the cleaning fluid surges up into the right-hand cylinder, the air in the latter escapes by way of the valvepassages 32 and 3|, the nipple 33 and elbow 54 into the fluid-separating chamber 21, and from thence by way of the vent 48 to the atmosphere. Moreover, any cleaning fluid which is carried along with the air or which is formed upwardly by the surging action into the fluid-separating chamber flows therein through its filter 52, which serves to separate the air from the liquid. Now, on swinging the valve-operating handle 42 to the right, the valve-plug will take the position shown in Fig. 4, whereby the right-hand cylinder of the apparatus is connected by way of the valvepassages 32 and 33 to the compressed-air fitting 39, while the left-hand cylinder is closed off from the compressed-air supply and connected by way of the valve-passages and 3|, the nipple 36 and elbow 54 to the fluid-separating chamber 21. Thereupon, the force of the compressed air acting on the fluid in the right-hand cylinder drives the fluid therefrom by way of the aperture in the bottom thereof through the radiator or article being cleaned, up into the left-hand cylinder of the apparatus. Simultaneously, air in the lefthand cylinder escapes by way of the valve-passages 30 and 3| into the fluid-separating chamber and from thence by way of its vent-aperture 48 to the atmosphere. Moreover, any liquid which is carried up into the fluid-separating chamber by the surging action of the fluid or by the air, is separated from the air in the chamber 21 and accumulated therein without loss to the system. To thoroughly clean the radiator, the above-described manual operations of the valve-handle are repeated successively for a predetermined length of time, during which time small quantities of cleaning fluid accumulate within the fluid-separating chamber between successive surges of the fluid through the apparatus. In this regard, it should be mentioned that since the overflow-liquid in the fluid-separating chamber is free to flow out therefrom into one or the other of the cylinders between successive operations of the valve-handle, the accumulation of overflow-liquid in the fluid-separating chamber occurs only as the result of a relativelyviolent surging action which is achieved by moving the valve-operating handle rapidly back and forth between its two extreme positions. With each surge of liquid, some passes up into the fluid-separating chamber, and while a little of this overflow-liquid draws back on reversal of the valve-operating lever, a major portion of the overflow-liquid is prevented from flowing out by the onslaught of the next-succeeding incoming overflow-liquid.

After a predetermined quantity of overflow cleaning fluid has accumulated within the fluidseparating chamber as determined by the water gauge 49 on the front thereof, the operator sets The showing of 6 In the showing of Fig. 6, certain of the parts correspond to those previously described herein and such parts have reference characters applied thereto which correspond to those previously employed.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the means for separating the cleaning fluid and occluded air during the surging action of the apparatus. In this form of the invention, the fluid-separating chamber comprises a substantially-cylindrical sheet-metal shell having top and bottom plates 56 and 51 respectively. Mounted within the shell 55 are two semicylindrical closed cells 58 and 59 respectively of substantially-identical construction, each having apertures in their top walls 60 and BI respectively, in which apertures are fitted the lower ends of elbows 52 and 63 respectively which are connected at their opposite ends with the valve-passages 30 and 32 respectively of the above-described four-way valve 29. The cells 58 and 59 are also provided with apertures in the walls thereof adjacent the lower ends of the cells, in which apertures are fitted suitable nipples 64 and 65 respectively connected by couplings 6B and 51 respectively to the domed covers of the cylinders l2 and I3 of the apparatus.

To augment the separation of air and liquid in each cell, each cell is provided with a filter in the bottom thereof, these filters 68 and 69 respectively being opposite the corresponding nipples 64 and 65 of the cylinders l2 and |3.

In this modified construction, the valve-passage 3| of the valve is open directly to the atthe valve-operating handle in its neutral position, whereupon both the rightand left-hand cylinders are closed off from the compressed-air source and opened up by way of the passages 32, 3| and 30 respectively to the fluid-separating chamber 21, whereupon the overflow-liquid therein flows down through the elbow 54 and the aforesaid valve-passages into the left and right cylinders of the apparatus to replenish the supply of cleaning liquid therein. The manual operation mosphere and is preferably provided with a ventpipe '10 projecting downwardly on the back side of the housing 55.

Operation of the showing of Fig. 6 4

This modified device is used in substantially the same manner as that of the apparatus hereinabove described, but it will be noted that in this modified fluid-separating chamber, the compressed air is successively fed to the leftand right-hand cylinders I2 and 23 respectively of the apparatus by way of the valve-elbows 62 and 63 respectively, the fluid-separating cells 58 and 59 respectively and their respective filters 63 and 69. As the cleaning fluid is thus caused to surge from one cylinder into the opposite cylinder, the air in the latter cylinder escapes therefrom by way of its corresponding fluid-separating cell and the vent-pipe Iii of the valve. Simultaneously, any liquid carried by the air or carried up into the corresponding cell of the fluidseparating chamber by the surging action of the liquid passes through the filter of the cell and is separated from the air therein, the vertical height of each cell being'such that any fluid carried into the cell is effectively prevented from escaping out of the air-vent pipe ll! of the valve. Although this modified form of the fluid-separating means of the radiator-cleaning apparatus may be used effectively for cleaning radiators and articles of similar nature, the rapidity of operation is somewhat less than that of the fluidseparating chamber and valve rhereinabove wiescribed, :due to the-damping action :of the vertical-column of air in the=cells=58 andifiawhich .are mounted. between the compressed-air source .anilthe respective cylindersd 2* and- 213;

' Although :the apparatus :has been described specifically in conjunctionwithits-use for clean ing automobile radiators, it'will be understood that the device is applicable with equal success to the cleaning'ofengine blocks and articles of arelated nature.

The invention .may be carried out in other specific wayszthan those herein'set forth without departing :from -.the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the presentembodiments are, therefore; =tobe considered in all respects as-illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency rangef the appended claims are intended to-be embraced therein.

We claim:

1'. an apparatus for cleaninga radiatorancl articles =tof like nature :by -forcing cleaning liquid therethrough iii-alternate directions, the combination With :a pair ofreceptacles adapted .to contain-cleaning fluid and flexible tubes connectedztosaid receptacles'and adapted to beconnected .to the-inletand outlet respectively of a radiator; of a manually-operated valve having .fou-r"substantially-radial valve-passages; means .to connect a pair of substantially diametricallycpposite valve-.passagesofsaid valve to the said .pair of receptacles respectively: va fitting connected to a third valveepassage of said valve, said .fitting beingsarrangedto be connected to cornpressed-air source-for -delivering compressed air to said'valve .averi-ted fiuid=separating chamber; and-a fitting: arranged to connect saidfluid-sep a rating chamber .to the .fourth valve-passage of said valve-to support .said .fiuidsseparating chamher at an elevation vabovesaid receptacles-and to provide-a passage from said vented.fluidseparatingchamber to each of said receptacles.

Q2. Inan apparatus .for cleaning a radiator and articles .of like nature by forcing cleaning liquid therethrough in alternate directions, the combination with a pair of receptacles adapted 'to contain cleaning fluid and flexible 'tubes connected' to saidreceptacles and adapted to be connectedto the inlet and-outlet respectively ofra radiator; of a manually-operated valve having .four substantiallyradial valve-passages; .means .toconnect a pair of substantially.diametricallyoppositevalve-passages of said valve-to the said pair of receptacles respectively; .a fitting connected to a thirdvalve-passageofsaid valve, said fitting being arranged to .be connected to a compressed-air sourcefor delivering compressed air .to said valve; a vented fluid-separating chamber;

-a fitting arranged to connect said vented. fluidseparating chamber to the fourth valveepassage of said valve to support said fluid-separating chamber ata-n elevation above said receptacles and to provide a passage from said fluid-separat- .ingchamber to each of said receptacles; and a valve-plug in said valve, said valve-plug having -a .recessed web-portion arranged in one extreme position of said valve-plug to connect one of said diametrically-opposite valve-passages with the valve-passage of said compressed-air fitting and in the opposite extreme position ofsaid valve:- plug to connect the otherof said-diametricalW- opposite valvepassageswith the valve-passage of said compressed-air. fitting, andzin-a substantially-intermediate position to close off both of said diametrically-opposite valve-passages from the valve=passage of :said -'compressed-air fitting and to open said diametrically-opposite valvepassages to the. said fourth valve-passage of said valve to permit fluid toifiow from the vented fluid-separating chamber substantially simultaneously into'bothof said receptacles.-

3. In-an-apparatus-for cleaning a-radiatorand articles of like nature by forcingcleaningdiquid therethrough in alternate -.directions, the combinationwith a pair of receptacles adapted to contain cleaning fluid and flexible tubesadapted .to-be connectedtosaid receptacles-and to themlet andoutlet respectively-of a radiator; ota manually-operated-valve having four substantially-radial valve-passages; meansto connectia-pair of substantially diametrically-opposite .valve ,passagesof saidvalveto the said pair-of receptacles respectively; a fitting connected to a third valve-passage of saidvalve, said fitting belligerranged :tO be connected to .a compressedeair sourcefor delivering compressed. air .tosaid valve; "a vented fluid-separating chamber; .a fittingarranged-to'connect said vented fluid=separating chamber tothe' fourth valve passage of said-valve to support said fluid-separating chamber atan elevation above said receptacles and. .to provide a passage from said fluid-separating chamber to each of said receptacles;- and a valve-plughav- 'ing a recessed -web-portion-, prcvided .withtwo v.oppositely-disposed faces, onerof whichcomprises a concave curvilinearsurface and .the other of which comprises two planar surf-aces intersect- :ing at an angle with respectto each other, said recessed-.web-portion being arrangedjn one ex- .treme' position ofsaid valve-plug to connect one of said diametrically-opposite valve-passages with the valve-passage of said compressedejair vi-itting'andni the-oppositeextreme position of sa-idvalve-plug to connect .the .otherof said diametrically-opposite valve-passages With the valve-passage of said compressed-air.fitting,. and .in r asubstantiallyeintermediate position to close .off both of said. diametrically-Opposite valve- ;passages .-from the valvespassage of said compressed-air fitting and to opensaid diametrical- .lympposite valve-passages .to ,the said .fourth valve-passage-of saidvalveto permit fluid to flow lfrom the vented fluid-separating chambersubstantially simultaneously into both of .said receptacles.

.I-IENRY M. DUNN.

.DAVID OLES.

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